Congestion Charge- do I need to pay?

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I was driving around London today (helping one of my offspring move flats). I may or may not have entered the CC zone.

Is there any way to check whether I owe any money. I really don’t want the hassle of a penalty charge.

[lancslad58]

Countdown said:

I was driving around London today (helping one of my offspring move flats). I may or may not have entered the CC zone.

Is there any way to check whether I owe any money. I really don t want the hassle of a penalty charge.

london cc zone map

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lancslad58 said:

london cc zone map

Unfortunately given the convoluted directions given by Google Maps I’m not sure if I entered the CC zone.

[Sporky]

There is no way of checking if you entered.

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Sporky said:

There is no way of checking if you entered.

Cheers - that was the conclusion I was getting to.

[Sporky]

That does seem a bit mean of them. They must know, after all.

I would pay, gripe about it a bit, and then move on.

[kiethton]

Did google maps warn you of a toll? Generally if it doesn't, you didn't go in the zone. The signs on entry to it are quite obvious also.

[RSTurboPaul]

It is similar to how there is no 'you are leaving the congestion zone' signage, so if you are zooming out of London to try to avoid going past midnight, there is no clear way of knowing if you made it or if you need to pay them 2x the daily charge.

It is basically a money-making racket. I am not quite sure how creating deliberate confusion through lack of signage and having no way to check if you actually need to pay, is legal.

[GasEngineer]

Google came up with the info below - is it wrong?

londonfans.com said:

To check if you have entered the London Congestion Zone, the first step is to go to the Transport for London (TfL) website. Once on the website, click on the ‘Congestion Charge’ tab and then select ‘Check if you need to pay’. This will take you to the ‘Congestion Charge – Check if you need to pay’ page.

On this page, you will be asked to enter your vehicle registration number and the date and time of your journey. Once you have provided this information, click on ‘Find’. The website will then confirm whether or not you have entered the Congestion Zone and whether you need to pay the Congestion Charge.

[Geffg]

You’d think if you went online to pay surely it would say how much owed or is that too simple of an idea. It knows if payment required as it will soon send a fine out so must know if required. Or just simply typically set up to rip off. People unsure if required will pay to avoid a possible fine.
Even the Mersey gateway toll if you go online it tells you if payment required.

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GasEngineer said:

I can’t see a link that says “check if you need to pay”.

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kiethton said:

Did google maps warn you of a toll? Generally if it doesn't, you didn't go in the zone. The signs on entry to it are quite obvious also.

It didn’t, and I also didn’t see any Big C signs. However I have to admit I was focused on trying to avoid suicidal deliveroo and Lime bikers and moronic pedestrians.

[nvubu]

What time, as I drove into it by mistake on a Saturday, and discovered that it only operates 12-6 over the weekends/bank holiday.

[dibblecorse]

Countdown said:

kiethton said:

Did google maps warn you of a toll? Generally if it doesn't, you didn't go in the zone. The signs on entry to it are quite obvious also.

It didn t, and I also didn t see any Big C signs. However I have to admit I was focused on trying to avoid suicidal deliveroo and Lime bikers and moronic pedestrians.

Where did you travel from and to, we may be able to assist on the likelihood.

Also if I remcorrectly if you to through the pay sequence on TFL at a point it will ask which trip you want to pay for, its been a while since I used it.

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nvubu said:

What time, as I drove into it by mistake on a Saturday, and discovered that it only operates 12-6 over the weekends/bank holiday.

Gpt there at 11, left at 6 so I think i was bang inside the relevant time.

I have to admit London wasn't as gridlocked as I imagined it would be on a Saturday (and thank jeebus for automatics)

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dibblecorse said:

Where did you travel from and to, we may be able to assist on the likelihood.

Also if I remcorrectly if you to through the pay sequence on TFL at a point it will ask which trip you want to pay for, its been a while since I used it.

Great minds think alike - I've just google-mapped various routes between her old place (Hampstead Road, just north of Euston Road) to her new place (not far from Kilburn Park) and from memory, the closes I got to the Zone was skirting along the north (eastbound) side of Marylebone Road. Most of the trips we did actually took us around the north side of Regents Park which were clearly outside the zone.

Anyway i think I'm safe - now wait for a thread in 2 weeks time asking "How do I get out of a Congestion Charge fine?"

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dibblecorse said:

Also if I remcorrectly if you to through the pay sequence on TFL at a point it will ask which trip you want to pay for, its been a while since I used it.

AFAICS it just gives me the options to pay for CC

[Solocle]

Countdown said:

Gpt there at 11, left at 6 so I think i was bang inside the relevant time.

I have to admit London wasn't as gridlocked as I imagined it would be on a Saturday (and thank jeebus for automatics)

Actually skirted the CC zone for the first time last weekend, I found it surprisingly busy for near midnight!

was dropping my girlfriend off back home, her intended train having been cancelled. Decided on a change from the usual North Circular route.

[48k]

Countdown said:

lancslad58 said:

london cc zone map

Unfortunately given the convoluted directions given by Google Maps I m not sure if I entered the CC zone.

Look at your Google Maps timeline showing where you were and correlate that the the CC zone map ?